Review of "The Simpsons Movie'

From the first glimpse of the famous Twentieth Century Fox logo to the last frame of the credits, the verbal, visual and musical gags just keep coming. “Why would anyone go to the movies and watch something that they can stay at home and watch on television for free?” complains Homer to the audience. Because it’s very clever comedy from the team that have dominated prime time, sit-com television for most of the last twenty years, that’s why! Welcome to the widescreen, feature length world of Springfield, and its most famous dysfunctional family – the Simpsons.

With a clear play on current environmental concerns, The Simpsons Movie opens on Springfield threatened by an ecological disaster. Homer (voice of Dan Castellaneta) takes the problem over the tipping point when he dumps his pet pig’s poo in the local lake whilst rushing for free doughnuts. Faced with catastrophe, President Arnold Schwarzenegger (voice of Harry Shearer) and Environmental Protection Agency boss Russ Cargill (voice of Albert Brooks) decide to close Springfield down for good. The angry residents (there are apparently more than 300 individual character cameos in the shot) descend on the Simpson’s house, but the family escapes to the wilderness where Homer must decide whether to return and save Springfield from anarchy and destruction, whilst working out how to restore his family’s belief in him as father and husband.

There’s nothing extraordinary in the story: it’s merely a structure for the savage wit and animated antics that Simpsons fans have come to love and expect. Director David Silverman and a team of eleven credited writers make full use of the wide screen format, and mercilessly poke fun at the cinema medium, along with other regular targets such as religion, the government and – in one inspired sequence – Disney-style animation. It’s these gags that fuel the film and give it an almost non-stop energy. Hans Zimmer also has some fun with the music and some of the adapted songs – particularly the ‘Spider-pig’ lyrics sung by Homer – are priceless. As for the characters, well, this is indeed the Simpsons’ movie, with other Springfield regulars relegated to very minor roles – even the dastardly Mr. Burns. The focus is definitely back to the core family of Homer, Marge (voice of Julie Kavner), Lisa (voice of Yeardley Smith), Bart and Maggie (both voiced by Nancy Cartright. Yes, Maggie does finally say something!), and ultimately it’s a massive Simpsons episode. But who cares when such a talented team of writers creates so much to laugh at. Eeeeexcellent.